Airalo vs GigSky
The biggest eSIM store against the one that works at sea and in the air. The typical pack costs $9.50 less at Airalo.
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Airalo
The biggest eSIM store on earth, and it acts like it.
GigSky
The only eSIM that follows you onto the ship.
| Feature | Airalo | GigSky |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.6 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Price | $19.50 | $29 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | First-time and frequent travelers | Cruises and frequent flyers |
| Category | Data bundles | Specialists |
| Provider | Airalo | GigSky |
| Visit Airalo | Visit GigSky |
Our verdict
Airalo wins for almost every trip and GigSky wins for the trips almost nobody takes. Our reference pack costs $19.50 at Airalo against $29 at GigSky, and Airalo scores 4.6 against 4.0, the highest and one of the lower ratings on this site.
GigSky earns its place on coverage nobody else offers: cruise ships and inflight connectivity, which is exactly where a normal travel eSIM stops working. If your holiday involves a ship, that is not a nice extra, it is the reason to buy. Airalo is the default for everything on land.
Packs in more than 200 countries and regions, an app that rarely fails, and loyalty discounts that soften repeat purchases. The honest downside of Airalo is that it is rarely the cheapest per gigabyte; regional specialists undercut it in most single countries.
The honest downside of GigSky is the price, since $29 against $19.50 is a 49 percent premium for coverage most travellers will never use. Flying to a city and back: Airalo. Cruising, or you genuinely need data in the air: GigSky, and pay the difference without complaint because nothing else does it.
“The default choice for a reason: more countries than anyone, a mature app, and fair prices. Not always the absolute cheapest per gigabyte, but the combination of coverage, reliability, and ease keeps it on top of our shortlist.”Editorial team, on Airalo
“The veteran with a unique trick: data plans that work on cruise ships and on planes, where almost no other eSIM dares. Land prices are higher than the discounters, but at sea GigSky plays nearly alone.”Editorial team, on GigSky
Frequently asked questions
Is GigSky worth paying more than Airalo?
Only for cruises and inflight use. Our reference pack is $29 at GigSky against $19.50 at Airalo, a 49 percent premium. GigSky covers ships and aircraft, where ordinary travel eSIMs simply have no signal. On land Airalo does the same job for less and scores higher at 4.6 against 4.0.
Does an eSIM work on a cruise ship?
Usually not. A normal travel eSIM rides on local mobile networks, and at sea there are none, so you fall back on the ship's own satellite wifi at its own prices. GigSky is one of the few that sells maritime and inflight packages, and that is its whole reason for existing.
Which one has better coverage overall?
Airalo on land, with packs in more than 200 countries and regions, which is the widest catalogue in this category. GigSky covers fewer destinations but adds the two places Airalo does not reach at all: at sea and in the air. They are complements more than competitors.